Arrow drop rest

ABSTRACT

An archery bow including an arrow holder and lift assembly that has an arrow holder to be positioned on an arrow support shoulder or arrow rest of the bow and that will hold a nocked arrow to the bow and an arrow lift assembly that will pick up the arrow shaft from the arrow holder and elevate the arrow shaft as the drawstring is pulled and that will release downwardly away from the arrow shaft upon release of the drawstring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to archery bows and is particularly related to such bows as are typically used for hunting purposes.

Bow hunters must necessarily be concerned with and be able to quickly aim and shoot an arrow when game is spotted.

2. Prior Art

It is common for bow hunters to have an arrow positioned in the bow and ready to fire, even as the bow hunter is searching for, or waiting for game. In the past, this has generally meant that the an arrow was nocked to the drawstring of the bow and the user grasps the center portion of the bow and the arrow to keep the arrow from falling from the bow prior to arrival of the time to shoot the arrow. Naturally, because of the need to traverse through brush and over rough terrain, it is not uncommon for the bow hunter to release the grip on the arrow and for the arrow fall from the ready to fire position. It then becomes necessary to reinstall the arrow to the ready position for quick shooting of the arrow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the Invention

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a bow equipped with a centrally located arrow holder and with means to release the arrow from the arrow holder upon pulling of the drawstring of the bow.

Additional objects are to provide an arrow holding device centrally located on a bow and with means to lift the arrow out of the holding means to position the arrow for shooting upon drawing of the drawstring.

Still other objects are to provide an arrow holding device that can be attached to a central portion of a bow and a device for lifting an arrow from the holding means and for positioning the arrow to be fired upon pulling of a drawstring of a bow to which the system is attached.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for use with an archery bow that includes means attachable to the central portion of the bow for holding an arrow; and means for lifting the arrow from the holding means when the drawstring of the bow is pulled and that will be released from the arrow when the drawstring is released.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

Principal features of the invention include a bow having an arrow holding device centrally located with respect to the bow and a device for lifting the arrow from the holder and for positioning the arrow to be shot from the bow.

Other features of the invention include a device for lifting the arrow from the holder, for holding the arrow in position to be shot and to fall from the arrow holding position as the drawstring to which he arrow is nocked is released.

Still other features are a system that can be readily attached to a central portion of a bow; that includes both a holding device for a nocked arrow that is readily secured to an arrow rest shoulder in the central portion of the bow; and a device for lifting the arrow from the holder and releasing from the arrow when the arrow is shot and that is readily attached to the central portion of the bow to cooperate with the arrow holder.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

In the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a compound bow equipped with the system of the invention and showing an arrow held in place at the central portion of the bow and nocked to a drawstring of the bow;

FIG. 2, a view like that of FIG. 1, but showing the bow string pulled and the arrow moved rearwardly with the string;

FIG. 3, a view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing the drawstring released and the arrow leaving the bow;

FIG. 4, an enlarged perspective view of the system of the invention, attached to a bow that is shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 5, a view like that of FIG. 4, but showing the system of the invention, when the bow string has been pulled;

FIG. 6, a perspective view of the lift device of the system of the invention, with the lift device being biased downwardly away from a released arrow;

FIG. 7, a view like that of FIG. 6, but showing the lift device rotated to a raised position and supporting a nocked arrow;

FIG. 8, a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9, a section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now the Drawings

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the arrow holder and release system of the invention is shown generally at 10, mounted to a central section 12 of a compound bow, shown generally at 14.

Central section 12 of the conventional compound bow 14, includes the usual handle 16 and an arrow rest shoulder 18 formed above the handle 16.

An upper limb 20 is attached to an upper end 22 of the central section and a lower limb 24 is similar attached to a lower end 26 of the central section 12. A guide rod 28 is fixed to the center portion 12 above the end 26 and projects rearwardly from the center section. A slide 30 reciprocates on the guide rod 28 and lengths 32 and 34 of the bow string, shown generally at 36, pass through the slide 30. Another length 38 of the bow string 36 receives the nock 40 of an arrow shown generally at 42 and including a pointed end 44.

In conventional fashion, the length 32 of the bow string 36 is connected to the shaft 46 of a pulley 48 mounted at an upper end 50 of the upper limb 20. The length 32 further extends around a portion of an eccentric cam 52 pivotally connected to a lower end 54 of the lower limb 24. The length 32 connecting to the length 34 extends over the pulley 48 and then extends as length 38 to be anchored to the eccentric pulley 50. The bow construction, including the central portion 12, the limbs 20 and 24, the pulleys 48 and 50, the guide rod 28, the slide 30 which moves rearwardly on guide rod 28 upon pulling of the bow string 36 is conventional and is common to many different types of compound bows.

The arrow holder and release system 10 includes an arrow holder 60 that is arranged to rest on and be secured to the arrow rest shoulder 18. Arrow holder 60 includes a base 62 that is bonded or otherwise affixed to the shoulder 18. A pair of spaced apart guide walls 64 and 66 extend upwardly from opposite sides of the base 62 and they are spaced apart to receive a shaft of an arrow 42 held between them. Spaced apart guide walls 64 and 66 are made of a somewhat resilient material that will allow the guide walls to be spread as an arrow is forced between the upper edges 68 and 70 thereof. The upper edges 68 and 70 are each turned inwardly toward one another so that an arrow positioned within the holder 60 will be retained, even if the bow and arrow are turned upside down.

The arrow holder and release system 10 further includes a lift assembly, shown generally at 74. Lift assembly 74 includes a sidewall 76 that is secured by a bolt 78 and nut 80 to the bow. Bolt 78 extends through an elongate slot 82 in the sidewall 76 and through the center section 12 of the bow to a nut 84 positioned within a recessed portion 86 of the center section. The end of bolt 78 and the nut 84, positioned within the recess 86, will not project to adversely affect the flight of an arrow shot from the bow.

A support shaft 90 has a threaded end 92 inserted through an elongate vertical slot 94 formed in the sidewall 76. Nuts 96 and 98 are threaded onto the threaded end 92 of support shaft 90, at opposite sides of the sidewall 76. The nuts 96 and 98 hold the support shaft 90 in place. A micrometer screw 100, threaded through an edge 104 of sidewall 76, is turned into engagement with shaft 90. A similar micrometer screw 102 threaded through a bottom edge 106 of the sidewall 76 is turned to be in engagement with an opposite side of the shaft 90. The micrometer screws 100 and 102 are turned to raise or lower the shaft 90, as necessary, to provide proper height for operation of the lift assembly 74. Support shaft 90 is thus vertically positioned within the slot 94 and is held in place by the turning of the micrometer screws 100 and 102 to engage opposite sides of the shaft 90. Nuts 96 and 98 are turned to secure the support shaft 90 in place and to position the support shaft 90 laterally to extend from the sidewall 76 and to provide for proper alignment of the lift assembly 74.

The end 110 of support shaft 90 that is opposite the threaded end 92 is unthreaded. A pickup member, shown generally at 112, is journaled on the unthreaded end 110 of support shaft 90.

Pickup member 112 includes a base 114 with a hole 116 therethrough. The base 114 having the hole 116 fits snugly, but rotatable, around the support shaft 90. A slot 118 is formed in the sidewall of base 114 and a pin 120 through the support shaft 90 extends into the slot 118 at opposite sides of the support shaft 90. The engagement of the innermost ends of slot 118 with the pin 120 limits rotation of the pickup member 112 on the support shaft 90.

The pickup member 112 is preferably made of a plastic or rubberized material having sufficient lubricity to allow the pickup member to rotate on the support shaft 90.

Pickup member 112 further includes an arrow rest 122. Arrow rest 122 may be formed integral with the base 114 or may be formed as a separate component connected to the base 114. Arrow rest 122 is of resilient plastic or rubberized material and includes a pair of bifurcated wings 124 and 126 extending away from one side of the base 114 and having inner edges 128 and 130 that diverge away from one another and from a central, soft receiving member 132 that also has a V-notch 134 formed therein.

A cap 140 fits over the end of support shaft 90 opposite threaded end 92 and is secured to the support shaft by a set screw 142 threaded through the cap wall and into the support shaft.

A coil spring 146 fits on the end of support shaft 90 and inside the cap 140. One end 148 of the coil spring 146 is anchored to the set screw 142 and the opposite end 150 is inserted into the base 114. Thus, the coil spring biases the pickup member 112 until one end of slot 118 engages pin 120.

A length of cord 150 has one end 152 that extends through the base 114 and above the support shaft 90. Cord 150 extends over a shoulder 154 of the base such that rearward pulling on the cord from its other end 158 will rotate the pickup member 112 until the other end of slot 118 engages pin 120. Release of the cord will then allow the spring 146 to again bias the pickup member 112 until the first end of the slot 118 engages pin 120.

In operation of a compound bow having the arrow holder and lift assembly 10, a user places a slot 162 of nock 40 of arrow 42 to straddle the relaxed drawstring length 38 and places the shaft 46 of the arrow in the arrow holder 60. The bow and arrow can then be carried with the arrow ready to be drawn, without the arrow falling from the bow and without the user having to hold the arrow in place. The arrow holder 60 holds the arrow shaft against sliding through and release of the arrow nock from the drawstring length 38. The arrow holder and nock and drawstring also hold the arrow against falling from the bow even if the bow is turned fully upside down while being carried by a user.

A user ready to launch the arrow grips handle 16 with one hand and draws the arrow nock and drawstring length 38 away from the central section 12.

As the length 38 of the drawstring 36 is pulled rearwardly slide 30 travels rearwardly on guide 28, and lengths 32 and 34 of the drawstring passing through slide 30 are also moved rearwardly.

Cord 150 is tied to drawstring length 38 and is pulled by movement of drawstring length 34 with slide 30. Pulling on cord 150 rotates the base 114 and pivots the arrow rest 122 to an upwardly extending position. The wings 124 and 126 engage opposite sides of arrow shaft 40 and lift the arrow shaft out of arrow holder 60.

Release of the drawstring 36 by the user allows the drawstring to propel the arrow from the bow. As soon as the bow string is released, cord 150 is released and spring 146 rotates the base 114 and moves the wings 124 and 126 downwardly and totally out of the path of travel of the arrow.

The arrow holder and lift assembly of the invention provides for secure positioning of an arrow in a bow and with the arrow ready to be drawn and launched. Further, drawing of the bow string and arrow will release the arrow from the arrow holder so that it is ready to be launched, without obstruction.

The arrow holder and lift assembly are readily adjusted to provide for accurate alignment of bow, arrow and drawstring so that the arrow is properly aligned for accurate shooting and flight using the adjustment means provided.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been herein described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as my invention. 

1. An archery bow having a central section including a handle and an arrow support shoulder above said handle; an upper limb extending from the central section above the arrow support shoulder, a lower limb extending from the central section below the handle, a drawstring extending between the ends of the limbs remote from the central section; and further including an arrow holder fixed to said central section above said arrow rest shoulder, said arrow having flexible guide walls to engage opposite sides of an arrow shaft and to grip said arrow shaft; and an arrow lift assembly fixed to the central section and pivotable to raise an arrow shaft upwardly and out of said arrow holder upon pulling of said drawstring of the bow and to move away from engagement with said arrow shaft upon release of said drawstring.
 2. An archery bow as in claim 1, wherein the arrow holder comprises a base; a pair of spaced apart guide walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base to receive an arrow shaft there between; and inturned flexible edges on upper ends of said base to allow insertion of an arrow shaft there between and to hold the arrow shaft of an arrow nocked to a relaxed drawstring attached between the limbs of said bow against falling from said base.
 3. An archery bow as in claim 1, wherein the arrow lift assembly includes a pair of wings having a generally V-shape formed between them and means for biasing said wings to a position beneath the arrow shaft; and means for moving said wings to engage and raise said shaft upon pulling of the drawstring of the bow.
 4. An archery bow as in claim 3, wherein the means for moving the wings comprises a support shaft; means for mounting said support shaft to the central section of the bow; base member journaled on said support shaft and having said wings affixed thereto and rotatable with said base member; and biasing means biasing said base member to position said wings below the arrow shaft nocked to the drawstring and positioned to extend through the arrow holder.
 5. An archery bow as in claim 4, wherein the means for moving the wings to engage and raise the arrow shaft from the arrow holder comprises a cord having the end connected to the drawstring of the bow and another end connected to the base member to rotate the base member and wings attached thereto to raise the arrow shaft out of the arrow holder.
 6. An archery bow as in claim 5, further including adjustment means to adjust the arrow lift member vertically and horizontally with respect to the nocked arrow to position the arrow lift member for accurate release of the arrow upon release of the drawstring.
 7. An arrow holder and lift assembly for an archery bow comprising an arrow holder having means for attachment above an arrow rest shoulder of a bow; and an arrow lift assembly including means for attaching said assembly to a central portion of the bow and including means for lifting an arrow shaft out of the arrow holder upon drawing of the bow string for launching the arrow, and means for biasing the means for lifting the arrow from the arrow holder away from the arrow shaft upon release of the drawn bow string.
 8. An arrow holder and lift assembly as in claim 7, wherein the arrow holder has a base, a pair of spaced apart guide walls extending outwardly from said base an flexible top edges on said walls, said top edges being turned inwardly towards one another to hold an arrow shaft in said arrow holder.
 9. An arrow holder and lift assembly as in claim 8, wherein the means to lift an arrow out of the arrow holder comprises a support shaft having means for attachment to a central section of the bow, a base journaled on the support shaft, wings forming a V-shape between them fixed to and projecting from said support shaft, biasing means to bias said base on said support shaft to move said wings to a lowered position and a cord attached to said base and to a drawstring of said bow, whereby said biasing means will rotate said base and move said wings to extend upwardly and whereby release of said drawn drawstring relaxes the cord to allow said biasing means to rotate said wings out of engagement with the arrow shaft. 